SpOC hosts Combat Leader Development Course to enhance readiness

  • Published
  • By Space Operations Command Public Affairs
Space Operations Command hosted the first Combat Leader Development Course for combat squadron commanders and senior enlisted leaders here Dec. 2-7, 2024.

The course will prepare Combat Squadron leadership on roles, responsibilities, and mission planning based on a threat informed task-focused approach prior to their Space Force Generation commit cycle.

“As SpOC continues to shape the U.S. Space Force’s execution of SPAFORGEN, we must ensure those leading the units of action – our combat squadrons and detachments – understand the threat, the combatant command requirements, legal authorities for their roles and expectations of both SpOC and Space Force Space senior leaders,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Jeremy Cotton, SpOC director of training and force generation.

The course began with a FLASHPOINT exercise designed to establish a mission focused training environment, baseline integration expectations across multiple mission sets, as well as validate combat capability of force elements based on a realistic global threat environment. Attendees also visited multiple Deltas, hearing firsthand how each supports the USSF mission and further promoting interoperability between units.

“Visiting other units gave me an opportunity to see workspaces, learn about their missions, and place faces to names,” said Capt. Brandon Long, 3rd Space Operations Squadron assistant director of operations. “It was important to meet members we will need to work with in a multi-domain conflict or crisis.”

Although the first iteration, the course will continue to adapt and refine to focus on the most current threat in order to prepare Guardians to react and defeat them, enhancing their context of what space warfighting is at the tactical level.

“The 53 attendees were selected by force generation squadron and Mission Delta commanders to lead their respective formations over the next six months in their SPAFORGEN cycle,” said Cotton. “We are confident the course will empower these leaders and posture their formations to be as ready as possible for threats and win if the challenge arises.”